Jules chaeles levasseue



(No Model.)

J. G. LEVASSEUR.

I WATCH REGULATOR.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J ULES CHARLES LEVASSEUR, OF MILIANAH, ALGERIA.

WATCH REGU LATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355.093, datedDecember28, 1886. Application filed August 19, 1885. Serial No. 174.788.(No model.) Patented in France October 17?, 1e84, No. 164,879.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ULns CHARLES Lnvlis- SEUR, of Milianah, Algeria,have invented a new and Improved lVatch Regulator, (for which I havereceived Letters Patent of France, No. 16%,879, dated October 13,1884-,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

The object of my invention is to provide means for adjusting thebalance-regulator of a watch without opening the case.

The invention consists of a segmental'gear' wheel attached to or formedupon the regulator,and mechanism in gear therewith, whereby theregulator maybe adjusted by means of the winding-stem when arranged forsetting the hands, or by an independent stem fitted in the case; also,in the combination therewith of an index or tell-tale visible on. thedial to indicate the position of the regulator; and, finally, in theconstruction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described,and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure l is a face view of a stem-winding watch to which my improvementhas been applied. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, parts being brokenaway to reveal the construction. Fig. 3 is an edge View of the same,partly in section, on the broken line a" :r, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a frontView, the case and dial being partly broken away to disclose thearrangement of parts; and Fig. 5 is a rear view of a keywinder, the casebeing partly broken away to show the application of the improvement.

In the case A of the stern-winder is mounted the usual winding-stem, B,connected with the mainspring mechanism,and adapted to be disconnectedfrom the same and geared with the hand-setting mechanism by means of theusual push-button, 0, all in the ordinary manner.

On the arbor D of the minute-hand is fixed the pulley E, around which ispassed an endless chain, F, which also passes loosely around a pulley,G, mounted on an arbor, H, on which. is also mounted a spur-wheel, l.The spurwheel I engages with a pinion, J, mounted on a spindle, J, onwhich is also mounted a second pinion, K, which engages with a segmentalgear-wheel, L, attached to or formed upon the l regulator L. The latteris of the ordinary description for adjusting the tension ofthehairspring acting on the balance-wheel.

The pinion J on the spindle J is in gear with a segmental rack or gearwheel, M, fixed upon a spindle, M, mounted in suitable bearings in thecasing of the works. The forward end of the spindle M projects throughthe dial and carries a pointer or index, M, which registers with thedivisions of a se mental scale, M, on the face of the dial. The index Mthus turns with the regulator and serves to indicate the position of thesame, the scale M being marked in the usual manner to indicate thedirection and distance the regulator is to be turned to make the watchrun slower or faster. With the pinion K, with which the rack L is ingear, also engages a crown-wh eel, N,mounted on the inner end of a stem,N, turning in suitable hearings in the works and having its outer en (1ing through the rim of the case A.

To the inner end of the sliding head N is attached the free end of a hatspring, 0, fixedin the casing, which spring tends to hold the head inits outer position projecting from the easing, so as to be capable ofeasy adjustment by the fingers. The spring 0 is pressed inward, towithdraw the head N within the casing, by a button or push-piece, P,mounted to slide on the rim of the case, and provided on its inner partwith a cam-piece, P, which, when operated, acts upon the flat spring 0to retract the head N the button P sliding over the end of andconcealing the same.

Adjacent to the endless chain F is pivoted an angle-lever, Q, the outerarm of which projects through the rim of the case and carries a slidingbutton or push-piece, Q.

Theinner arm of the lever Qis made springy, and carries a small rotarydisk or pulley, Q, adapted to be pressed against and tighten the endlesschain F when operated by the button Q, thus causing the spur-wheel I, ingear with the regulator, to turn coincident-1y with the minute-handarbor when the hands are being adjusted by means of the winding stem InFig. 5 I have illustrated a key-winding watch to which my device hasbeen applied, the arrangement of the independent adj ustingstem N andits crown-wheel Nbeing the same squared to receive a sliding head,l lprojectas in the stem-winder, except that the sliding head N is omittedand the stem squared to re ceivethe l;ey-shanl or such head may be used,if desired. The stem, when not in use, is con cealed by the slidingbutton 1?.

If preferred, the regulator may also be connected with the hand-arbor,as in the stenr winder, and in the same manner.

The operation is as follows: To adjust the regulator without disturbingthe hands, the sliding button P is pushed back to allow the head N ofthe stem Ix" to be projected from the rim of the case by the spring 0,and the stem N is then rotated by its head to turn the segmental rack onthe lQglllfltOF-SPllltllG to the proper position, as indicated by theindex on the dialiace. To adjust the regulator when the hands are beingset forward or backward, and thus make the watch run taster or slower,respectirely, the puslrbutton C operated to disengage the windingmechanism and throw the hand'arbor in gear with the stem 13, in theusual manner. The button (,1 is also moved to tighten the endless chainand connect the 1ninute-hand arbor with the regulator, as before stated,so that when the minutehand is turned the regulator is adjustedsimultaneously therewith, and the error and rate of the watch arecompensated for coineidently. The chain 1*, when free from itstension-disk, is slack, and the hands can then be set in the usualmanner without disturbing the regulator.

Having thus fully described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patenty 1. In a watch, the combination, with thehand-arbor niechanisi'n and the balance-regulator, of gearing connectingthe regulator with .gear with the latter pinion, and an index or pointerturned by the latter rack and registering with a scale on thewatch-dial, snbstan tial'ly as shown and described.

3. In a watch, the combination, with the case and the balance-regulator,of an exteri- Orly-adj ustiable stem connected with the same, a slidingoperating-head on the stem, a spring connected with the sliding head,and a sliding button acting on the spring and arranged to cover thehead, substantially as shown and described.

l. In a watch, the combination, with the case, the balance-regulator,and the minute hand arbor, of gearing connecting the same with theregulator, pulleys, and an endless chain or belt interposed in saidgearing, and a pivoted lever carrying a friction-disk for tightening thebelt and prorided with a push piece for operating it, substantially asshown and described. I

The foregoing specification of my improved watehbalance regulator signedby me.

JULES CHARLES LEYASSEUR.

\Vitnesses:

O. OLLARD, Mi LLo Burner.

